by Peter Stark and Steven Krauzer
W.W. Norton and Company Publishing

I am downright amazed at how much information is packed into this little book. This book covers the gamut of winter sports, explaining everything from the familiar sledding and snowboarding to the more unusual snow volleyball, iceboating, and winter camping. Each topic is given enough coverage that someone would know how to get started. If you are not sure where to look for a winter sport to try, this is a great book to look in to get an idea.

There is a section on basic winter skills, including using a compass, proper winter clothing, and winter safety issues that are toward the end of the book. Personally, I feel this belongs toward the front. Although perhaps not as fun and catchy as the sports themselves, winter isn't fun until you have managed to take care of these basic things. Knowing these basic skills is also important for any type of outdoor enthusiast.

The cover is made from a vinyl material, with a removal picture jacket that only covers part of the book. I find the jacket to be very awkward. The vinyl may be nice to take the book with you outdoors while engaged in your activity, but I don't understand why the partial jacket.

The other issue I have with this book is that it is in dire need of updating. It was released in 1995. It has been 15 years. The information that is in the book is still good and will help you get a great introduction, but there is a lot of newer gear and other products that have become commonplace that simply were not available fifteen years ago.

This book is still very worthwhile for anyone new to winter sports. If you are a parent or educator who needs to find good ways to keep children active outdoors during the snowy months, there is a whole chapter on outdoor winter games. If you are looking for new ways to keep yourself active throughout the year, you are sure to find something in the many sports that are covered in this handy reference guide.

I used my own personal funds to purchase this book. I would highly recommend getting a copy of this book for a family bookshelf in the home of any household faced with the challenge of staying active outdoors in winter weather. You will have many new ideas for activities to try if you do.